From Liberia’s Coup to a New Life in America
Sisters Massah David and Miatta David Johnson know resilience firsthand. Their family fled Liberia after the 1980 coup that ended the presidency of William Tolbert. Their father, once mayor of Monrovia, was jailed for 18 months, leaving the family to start over in the United States.
Miatta, who arrived at age seven with her father and brothers, and Massah, who joined her mother at age four, credit their success to the grit they learned during this upheaval. “It speaks to just the resilience of the human spirit,” Miatta told People. “We saw our father go from being a mayor to selling shoes, and we understood that hard work and family come first.”
Building MVD Inc: Creativity Meets Strategy
After earning her degree from NYU, Miatta worked as a financial reporter for Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal. Massah, a Howard University alumna, left TVT Records to join her sister. Together, they founded MVD Inc. in 2002, blending Massah’s creative vision with Miatta’s strategic expertise.
Today, MVD Inc. manages high-profile events like Essence Black Women in Hollywood and Essence Fest. Their clients include Mary J. Blige, Nas, Common, Netflix, Universal Pictures, and LVMH. Their work has positioned the sisters as powerful forces in the entertainment industry while giving them a platform for philanthropy.
Amplifying Social Causes Through Entertainment
The sisters leverage MVD Inc. to amplify social initiatives. In 2016, they partnered with Schools Not Prisons, highlighting the school-to-prison pipeline in Black and Brown communities. “With our Rolodex, we felt there’s no better way to use it than through this initiative,” Miatta said. They also collaborated with Pusha T and Teach for America to raise awareness about education and justice reform.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the sisters adapted creatively. They organized a virtual celebration for teachers featuring surprise appearances by celebrities like Angela Bassett, providing memorable experiences for educators despite restrictions.
Celebrating African Heritage Through Dope Africans
In 2019, Massah and Miatta launched Dope Africans, an organization celebrating African culture in entertainment. The initiative connects African creatives and hosts events during Grammys weekend, Paris Fashion Week, and other major platforms.
“Coming up in the industry, there were not a lot of Africans,” Massah explained. “Now we are everywhere, but we started to notice a lack of connection. Dope Africans creates space for us to celebrate our culture and build community.”
Honoring Black Women in Hollywood
The sisters continue to prioritize representation and empowerment. For the fifth year, they are organizing the Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon, an annual pre-Oscars event honoring influential Black women in film. The 2026 honorees include Chase Infiniti, Kerry Washington, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Zinzi Coogler, and the women of “Sinners.”
Massah shared, “Our biggest challenge is our own perfectionism, but the core purpose is creating a safe, supportive space for Black women in the industry to connect and thrive.”
